Fall is here, and for the kiddos in your classroom that means one thing only: Halloween! I was a teacher for 23 years; so I know the mixed bag of tricks and treats that holiday brings to the classroom. Who could forget the fun of seeing those adorable Halloween costumes?…

I’ve been in the teaching profession long enough to have seen the debate come full circle. It’s no longer a question of whether or not you should incorporate digital texts within your classroom: it’s a given. Digital texts are here to stay in the classrooms of America; and I for…

Are you wondering how to promote reading engagement with the students you teach? It’s clear that students who love to read will spend more time independently reading for enjoyment. We’ve all had the experience of losing track of time while engrossed in the pages of a good book; and all…

Hi teacher friend! Let’s talk grammar. Please stop yawning! I know grammar has gotten a bad rap, but there are ways to teach it effectively to the kiddos in your classroom while making it memorable and FUN! Let’s take a quick look at some fun grammar activities… Grammar Activities, Fun?…

Hey teacher peeps; it’s me, your Guided Reading pal, with a quick reminder about teaching reading comprehension strategies. As soon as the new school year starts, you should begin teaching your kiddos to understand and use reading comprehension strategies. Whether it’s connected to a read-aloud, shared reading, or Guided Reading,…

Teaching children to read…it’s never been an easy task, and there are more than a few new wrinkles that have been added for 21st century educators. (Understatement of the year–or of the century!) Literacy and technology do coexist in our world and in our classrooms. It’s our job to use…

Ahhh…Labor Day! For some teachers it’s the last hurrah of summer; however, for others who are already back to school, it’s the first official holiday of the academic year. Either way, we’ll take it! This all-American holiday is an opportunity to step away from lesson planning and take a few…

Hey teacher peeps! With this year being the 50th anniversary of the Apollo moon landing, we’ve been over the moon with excitement! There’s something about that big, beautiful sphere in the night sky that ignites the imagination and inspires awe. It happens with all of us–young and old. The kiddos…

Hey there, teacher peeps! In this post I want to share with you a useful Reading Comprehension Strategies list to help you plan your Guided Reading instruction for Fluent readers. Comprehension skills and vocabulary building should be the main focus of your teaching time with these students, so let’s dig…